kitio.aiMailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Mailchimp has the lower starting price: about $13 a month, against $19 for ActiveCampaign.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Email templates
- Customer journeys
- Intuit Assist AI
- Landing pages
- SMS marketing
- Automation builder
- AI email writing
- Predictive sending
- Sales CRM
- 900+ integrations
| Feature | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Email marketing and automation with Intuit Assist AI | Email marketing and automation with Active Intelligence AI |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $13/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No, 14-day trial |
| Made by | Intuit | ActiveCampaign |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Mailchimp has the lower starting price: about $13 a month, against $19 for ActiveCampaign.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 250 contacts
- 500 sends/mo (250/day)
- 1 seat
Essentials
$13/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Sends up to 10x contacts
- 3 seats
Standard
$20/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Generative AI and enhanced automations
- Sends up to 12x contacts, 5 seats
Premium
$350/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Predictive segmentation
- Sends up to 15x contacts, unlimited seats
4 plans
Starter
$19/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Email marketing and automations
Plus
$59/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Landing pages and forms
- CRM integrations
Pro
$99/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Predictive sending and attribution
- Split automations
Enterprise
$174/mo
- From 1,000 contacts
- Custom reporting and objects
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Mailchimp
- Very well known and easy to start
- Many integrations
- Good templates
- Small free plan
- Price rises quickly with contacts
ActiveCampaign
- Powerful automations
- AI builds workflows from prompts
- Large integration library
- Steep price at higher contact counts
- Learning curve for complex flows
Which one should you choose?
Choose Mailchimp if you want:
- Very well known and easy to start
- Many integrations
- Good templates
Watch out: small free plan.
Choose ActiveCampaign if you want:
- Powerful automations
- AI builds workflows from prompts
- Large integration library
Watch out: steep price at higher contact counts.
Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign FAQ
What is the difference between Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign?
Mailchimp: Email marketing and automation with Intuit Assist AI. ActiveCampaign: Email marketing and automation with Active Intelligence AI. Both are marketing tools.
Is Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign cheaper?
Mailchimp has the lower starting price: about $13 a month, against $19 for ActiveCampaign.
Do Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign have free plans?
Mailchimp: Yes. ActiveCampaign: No, 14-day trial.
Who makes Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is made by Intuit, based in United States.
Who makes ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is made by ActiveCampaign, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign?
Choose Mailchimp if you value very well known and easy to start and many integrations. Choose ActiveCampaign if you value powerful automations and ai builds workflows from prompts.